Connection block



Dec. 15, 1931. j BLAKESLEE 1,836,951

CONNECTION BLOCK Filed Feb. 14, 1951 Patented Dec. 15, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE;..-

HENRY J. BLAKESLEE, OF MARLBORO, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE STATES COM- PANY, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT Application filed February 14, 1931. Serial No. 515,703.

This invention relates to a block that is designed for connecting line terminals with electric meter leads.

The object of the invention is to provide 6 a block which is particularly adapted for gularly extending conducting fingers at-f tached to the face at the opposite edge, the ends of the opposite fingers overlapping with a space between, one finger of the opposing complements being provided with a sliding contact that in normal position electrically connects the opposite fingers, and in its other position electrically-disconnects those fingers. In some instances the contact when moved to open the normal path closes a current path between two of the fingers on the same edge of the base. In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 shows a plan of a block with conductors arranged according to this invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view of'thc same with the conductors connected-as in normal use. Fig. 3 is a side view with the conductors electrically disconnected. Fig. 4 is a section of the block taken through one set of conductors. Fig. 5 is a view of a sliding contact that may be used. Fig. 6 is a plan of the block with a shunting connection. Fig. 7 is a side view of the modified arrangement with the conductors normally connected. Fig. 8 is a side view with the normal conductors disconnected and a shunt path connected. Fig. 9 is a section of the modified form. Fig. 10 is a slightly different form of sliding contact that may be used.

The base 1 may be made of any suitable insulating material, such as porcelain, of 50 the proper size to carry the required numher of conductors. Two conducting paths are illustrated in the drawings, although any desired number may be provided. As the conducting paths are the same, but one is described.

On the face of the base, near one edge is a conductor 2 with a downward inclined finger 3 that in its end has a slot 4. This conductor is held in place by any suitable means, as bolt 5 and nut 6. On the face at the opposite edge of the base is a conductor 7 with an upwardly inclined finger 8 that has a slot 9. Thislatter conductor is held in place by any suitable means, as bolt 10 and nut 11. The ends of these fingers overlap with a space between which allows them to act as a jack for receiving a plug connected with a test instrument.

Movable along the upwardly inclined finger is a. yoke shaped contact 12 that may have flanges 13, Fig. 5, which fit the edges of the finger or may have a lug 14 extending into the slot in the finger, Fig. 10, for the purpose of guiding it. When the contact is slid u one limb engages between the two fingers an the other limb engages on the inside of the downwardly inclined finger. The contact is retained in position by a screw 15, which when tightened ensures a firm, tight, electrical connection between the fingers. With the screw loosened the contact may be slid down and v the normal electrical path between the fingers opened. The screw is usually tightened to hold the contact in its lower position, and its inner end is headed over so as to prevent the screw from being completely removed.

In the modified arrangement the fingers and the contact are substantially the same as above described, but in this case a shunting strap 16 is connected to one of the fingers and extended beneath the corresponding adjacent finger. This strap has an upwardly projecting finger 17 which when the contact is slid down to open the normal path is engaged by the contact, as shown in Fig. 8, so as to short circuit the current across between the two adjacent fingers on the same edge of the block. This arrangement is particularly desirable for testing a meter without interrupting the customers service.

The inclined fingers are easily connected or disconnected by moving the contact, and when disconnected they afi'ord convenient means, acting as a jack, for receiving a plug that is connected with a test instrument. The contact is held in either position by a single non-removable screw, and yet it can be easily shifted and connection made to permit testing without interrupting the current flow to the meter with which the block is connected.

The invention claimed is:

1. An electrical connection block comprising a base, a conductor with a downwardly inclined finger, a conductor with an upwardly inclined finger, said conductors being mounted on the base with the finger ends spaced but overlapping, and a contact adapted to slide along the latter finger into and out of engagement with the former finger for closing and opening the normal electrical path through the fingers across the base.

2. Anelectrical connection block comprising a base, a conductor with a downwardly inclined finger, a conductor with an upwardly inclined finger, said conductors being mounted on the base with the finger ends spaced but overlapping, a contact adapted to slide along the latter finger into and out of engagement with the former finger for opening and closing the normal electrical path through the fingers, and a single means for fastening said contact in its upper and lower positions.

3. An electrical connection block comprising a base, a conductor with a downwardly inclined finger, a conductor with an upwardly inclined finger, said conductors being mounted on the base withthe finger ends spaced but overlapping, a yoke shaped contact movable along upon the latter finger and adapted to embrace the end of the former finger, and means for clamping the contact in position.

4. An electrical connection block comprising a base, a conductor with a downwardly inclined finger, a conductor with an upwardly inclined slotted finger, a contact movable along the latter finger into and out of engagement with the former finger for electrically connecting and disconnecting said fingers, said contact having a lug extending into the slot in the upwardly extending fin- .ger, and a screw extending through said slot for clamping said contact in place.

5. An electrical connection block comprising a base, a pair of conducting fingers with their ends overlapping and spaced from each other, a yoke shaped contact slidable on, but retained from removal from, one finger, and a short circuiting strap, said contact in one position connecting said fingers and in another position disconnecting the fingers and connecting the finger it slides on with said strap.

6. An electrical connection block comprising a base, a plurality of conductors with downwardly inclined fingers, a plurality of conductors with upwardly inclined fingers, contacts adapted to slide upon the upwardly inclined fingers for closing and gpening the normal electrical paths through the fingers across the base, and a conductor electrically connected with one upwardly inclined finger and extending beneath another upwardly mclined finger and adapted to be engaged by a sliding contact.

7. An electrical connection block comprising a base, a plurality of conductors with downwardly inclined fingers, a plurality of conductors with upwardly inclined fingers, contacts adapted to slide upon the upwardly inclined fingers for closing and opening the normal electrical paths through the fingers across the base, and a conducting stra electrically connected with one upwar inclined finger, said strap having a nger adapted to be engaged by one of said contacts when it is moved to open a normal electrical path.

8. An electrical connection block comprising a base, two conductors mounted on said base and including fingers with the finger ends in spaced but overlappin relationship, and a contact slidably mounted on one finger and slidable therealong between a circuitclosing position and a circuit-opening position, said contact including a portion located between the finger ends when in circuit-closing position and also means cooperati therewith whereby two opposite surfaces of each of the fingers are engaged, when said contact is in circuit-closing position.

9. An electrical connection block comprising a base, a pair of conducting fingers supported by said base and having mutually spaced and overlapping ends, and a contact and clamping assembly slidable on one finger and including elements to engage between said fingers and to embrace both said fingers when in circuit-closing position and being movable on said one finger between circuitclosing and circuit-opening positions.

10. An electrical connection block com prising a base, a pair of conducting fingers supported by said base and having mutually spaced and overlapping ends, a yoke-shaped contact slidably mounted on a said finger and movable between a circuit-closing position and a circuit-opening position, said okeshaped contact in the closed position embracing one of said fingers so that a portion thereof is located in the space between said fingers and another portion is located at the opposite side of said embraced finger, and a screw passing through said fingers and threadedly engaging said other portion of said contact and operable'for bringing and holding said contact and fingers in firm mechanical and electrical contact when in said closing position.

11. An electrical connection block comprising a base, two conductors supported on said base and each having a finger, said fingers overlapping one another and bein spaced apart, a contact slidably mounte on one finger and movable therealong between a circuit-closing position in the space between said fingers and a circuit-opening position out of said space and clam ing means for mechanically binding said gets and contact in electrically conducting relationship when said contact is in circuit-closing position.

HENRY J. BLAESLEE. 

